The Puffer Forum

I thought cuttlefish are really smart!

pufferpuggirl wrote:Sorry, I still fail to see the attraction to cichlids. They might be "pretty", but they lack something that puffers have. A puffer might not be as aesthetically pleasing as a cichlid or other fish, but they definitely have something that all other fish fail to have. Puffers are individual, cichlids are just like every other one.

Depends on a lot of things, really. For example, I'm finding myself attracted to the shelldwellings species. They are not "pretty" except in subtle ways, but they are adorable! And their lifestyles and habits are fascinating. They're going to be my next setup.

I got yellow Lab in my community tank and I got to say that he's "collectible item" or must have. Peaceful fish his yellow really shows nice in my tank

I heard the cuttlebone thing too, maybe they thought the cuttlefish was killed?

I think cichlids are good looking fish because of their color variety. Though their shape isn't something to make you stop and stare, a huge tank with cichlids of different colors are a wowwer.

pufferpuggirl wrote:Sorry, I still fail to see the attraction to cichlids. They might be "pretty", but they lack something that puffers have. A puffer might not be as aesthetically pleasing as a cichlid or other fish, but they definitely have something that all other fish fail to have. Puffers are individual, cichlids are just like every other one.
Obviously this is only my opinion, and I tend to be a little biased.

** In regards to what L!$A said about Kaleeko --- I think my BeeBoo stays down this end of the tank because he can sit here right by me when I'm at the computer and hang out with me. I must admit, I love looking over and seeing his cute little smiling face!

Well, I'm afraid that your lack of experience with Cichlids is showing. Many cichlids have highly significant and individual personalities. The mbu behavior mentioned is as common in large individual Cichlids of certain species as it is in puffers. And it is not rare in large goldfish. I do admit that my big mbu was my favorite of all the fish I have kept, but he was also the largest fish I have kept by some margin.

Plus the family of the Cichilds offer a huge vaiety of breeding sysytems which can be readily oberved in captivity of harems (love'm and leave'm) monogamous pairs, extended family assistance with fry protection and even feeding (were the older siblings help with younger ones). Show me a puffer with specialized breeding and child care - please! Dwarf puffer breeding practice is common in several lineages, nothing unique there, and few others can even be bred in captivity.

You can learn a lot from fish, but strong personality and connection with their servants (us) is not rare in fish, especially largish ones and/or those kept individually.

HTH

Please don't get me wrong .... I am not putting down cichlids. I just personally don't get anything out of them. They must have something to attract people because they are a very popular fish in this area, and you are right, I have absolutely NO experience with cichlids.
It's just my personal preference to prefer puffers over cichlids, but I didn't mean to offend any cichlid lovers.

I am not offended, I was just trying to broaden your horizons a little. If you stay in this hobby a long time, you will burn out if your range of interest is too narrow. There are an awful lot of fish out there, and several lineages have particular interest because of their diversity. I kept Cichlids for decades before I kept puffers, and I still have multiple Cichlid tanks - the family offers so much that a lifetime is mot long enough to cover them.

I guess this is why i have such a diverse interest in fish. I've been in the hobby for >30 years. I keep many different kinds of tanks with different biotypes. Discus, BW, FW & reefs.

Considering Pufferpuggirl has about what 50 puffs? Lol! & mudskippers, I don't see her getting bored anytime soon!

LilGreenPuffer wrote:

pufferpuggirl wrote:Sorry, I still fail to see the attraction to cichlids. They might be "pretty", but they lack something that puffers have. A puffer might not be as aesthetically pleasing as a cichlid or other fish, but they definitely have something that all other fish fail to have. Puffers are individual, cichlids are just like every other one.

Depends on a lot of things, really. For example, I'm finding myself attracted to the shelldwellings species. They are not "pretty" except in subtle ways, but they are adorable! And their lifestyles and habits are fascinating. They're going to be my next setup.

Ooh! Shelldwellers! I was going to get them for the 30 gallon, but the only species available in my area were some weird golden ones. They were wild caught and were $30 each.